Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing an Agreement Between the Department of Ecology and the City of Olympia to Sponsor Bioretention Hydrologic Performance Studies
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve a Resolution authorizing an Interagency Agreement with the Department of Ecology to sponsor Bioretention Hydrologic Performance Studies.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve a Resolution authorizing an Interagency Agreement with the Department of Ecology to sponsor Bioretention Hydrologic Performance Studies.
Staff Contact:
Eric Christensen, Water Resources Director, Public Works, 360.570.3741
Presenter:
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
Olympia pays into a collective fund to implement the Department of Ecology’s (Ecology) Stormwater Action Monitoring (SAM) Program. Administered by Ecology, the program is a collaboration between western Washington jurisdictions with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Stormwater Permits. SAM identifies effective actions and tracks regional progress to reduce pollution and flooding associated with stormwater. One of SAM’s focus areas is effectiveness studies to measure the effectiveness of stormwater management actions and communicating this information to jurisdictions.
Ecology requested City sponsorship of a study to evaluate bioretention facilities (engineered rain gardens) designed to remove contaminants and sediment from stormwater. The Interagency Agreement will allow $614,159 in funding to pass from Ecology to consultants performing the studies. The City will contract directly with the consultants.
Timing of the Interagency Agreement is critical. With Council authorization, work on the studies will commence in July 2022.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
There are no specific neighborhood and/or community concerns. Studies will be performed throughout western Washington. Findings from the studies will benefit jurisdictions throughout the region.
Options:
1. Approve a Resolution authorizing an Interagency Agreement with the Department of Ecology to sponsor Bioretention Hydrologic Performance Studies and authorize the City Manager to sign the agreement. This will allow important studies of the effectiveness of low impact development practices to proceed.
2. Do not approve the Resolution and do not authorize the City Manager to sign the Interagency Agreement with Ecology. This would likely delay the studies for a year until another sponsor can be found.
3. Modify the Resolution or the agreement with Ecology. This would likely delay the studies.
Financial Impact:
The Department of Ecology will provide funding of $614,159. City staff will process payments to the consultant and request reimbursement from Ecology. City staff will absorb the cost/time to review and submit deliverables to Ecology.
Attachments:
Resolution
Agreement